Reversible saddle-plate.



E. E. VANDERHOEF.

REVERSIBLE SADDLE PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6, 1915.

1,156,115. Patented 0ct.12,1915.

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ELLISON EDWARD VANDERI-IOEF, OE RUTH, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR T0 EDGAR ALLEN AMERICAN MANGANESE STEEL COMPANY,

I Specification of Iietters Patent.

OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION REVERSIBLE SADDLE-PLATE.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed March 16, .1915. Serial No. 14,808.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLISON EDWARD Vennnnr-ronr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ruth, in the county of White Pine and State of Nevada, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Saddle-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to saddle plates for steam shovels, or analogous machines, and has for its object to provide a plate which mav be reversed, to thus materially lengthen the serviceable life thereof, and decrease the weight of the plate when scrapped.

As is well known, the saddle plate is subjected to excessive wear, in that it holds the rack bar-of the dipper handle down in mesh with the pinion of the shi per shaft, and for this reason the saddle p ates are preferably formed of manganese steel. However, these plates must be replaced from time to time, involving considerable expense, and in order to materially lengthen the life of the saddle plate with relation to the amount of weight of metal forming the same, I provide a saddle plate which may be reversed, so that after the one side of the face thereof becomes worn beyond service, it may be reversed, and the reverse side or face may then be worn to a considerable extent so that the metal which ordinarily would be scrapped is further utilized.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, wherein it is to be understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in section of the reversible saddle plate, and illustrating the same in position upon the body of the dipper handle, and secured to the carriage which is pivotally mounted upon the shipper shaft; Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the saddle plate.

Referring specifically to the several figures, the saddle plate is formed with the wearing plate-like body 5, of sufficient width to extend across, and form, a bearing surface for the dipper handle 6. The body 5 of the saddle plate which includes the upper and lower. wearing faces 7 and 8, isprovided with the beveled corners 9, and the end recesses 10, which materially lighten the plate without interfering with the wearing qualities thereof.

Projecting from the upper and lower wearing faces of the body of the saddle plate, are the longitudinally extending ribs 11, each of the wearing faces being pro-. vided with a pair of these ribs, spaced symmetrically about the longitudinal axes of the plate, and materially strengthening the sa1ne,'as well as forming spaced guides or runners which, as more fully disclosed in Fig. 2, are adapted to extend within the central and longitudinal recesses with which the dipper handle isprovi'ded. The platelike body 5 is provided, adjacent its ends, with the openings 12, the sides of which are reinforced by the transversely extending ribs 13 which merge into and form a part of the longitudinally extending ribs .11. The openin s 12 are thus adapted to receive holding 'bo ts la therethrough, which holding bolts extend down to, and form a part of,

the carriage 15, which, in, turn, is pivotally supported upon the shipper shaft 16. The wearing plate 5 is further provided with suitable apertures 22 for the reception of suitable bolts, or analogous devices. saddle plate is accordingly held in spaced relation with the shipper shaft, and at the same timeis mounted to rock or oscillate thereabout, so that, while holding the racks of the dipper handle 6 in contact with the pinions 16 of the shipper shaft, it does not in any wise interfere with the swinging movement of the dipper handle, as is essential for the proper manipulation of the dipper bucket.

The carriage 15 is provided with the bolt openings 18 through which the bolts 14: project, and which carriage is pivotally contained between the spaced pinions 17, and extends up through the central opening in the dipper handle, and to such height therein that the ribs 11 of the saddle plate may rest thereupon. The carriage thus co-acts with the guides or ribs 11 of the saddle plate, and prevents any side motion of the dipper handle. Suitable securing nuts 20 are positioned upon the upper extremities of the holding bolts, and tighten down upon the reinforcing ribs 13 which surround the bolt openings 12, so that the saddle plate The may be drawn down in place and rigidly so secured.

It is not practical to provide means whereby the saddle plate may be lowered to take up for the Wear thereof, and it has been heretofore the practice to replace the plate afte it becomes worn, as it is then no longer capable of holding the rack bars 21 with which the dipper handle is provided in proper mesh with the spaced pinions 17. With the saddle plate constructed as herein described, after the face 8 becomes worn, the tightening nuts 20 are removed and the saddle plate is then reversed, or turned upside down, whereby the upper face 7 then becomes, and occupies the position of, the wearing face, and the saddle plate may then continue in service for a considerable time. It will be further apparent that the weight of metal contained Within the saddle plate, after both of the faces have been worn beyond service, is considerably less with relation to the length of service rendered than would be the weight of the scrap metal of two complete but non-reversible saddle plates, capable of the same service, all of which being made possible by forming the plate symmetrically about a medium plane through the wearing body 5 and parallel to the faces 7 and 8.

l Vhat I claim is 1. A saddle plate for dipper handles comprising a reversible body with upper and lower wearing faces, and means disposed upon the upper and lower faces adapted to form guides or runners for the dipper handle.

2. A saddle plate comprising a body with upper and lower wearing faces, and oppositely projecting ribs extending longitudinally of said wearing body.

3. A saddle plate comprising a wearing plate-like body with upper and lower wearing faces, and ribs extending longitudinally of said wearing body and projecting from the upper and lower wearing faces thereof. at. A saddle plate comprising a plate-like body with upper and lower wearing faces, and registering; ribs formed upon, and pro jecting to opposite sides of, the upper and lower wearing faces, and spaced symmetrically about the longitudinal medium line of the plate-like body, said plate-like body provided with openings intermediate said ribs, and reinforcing ribs surrounding the sides of said opening and merging into and forming a part of the aforementioned ribs.

Signed 31; Ruth. in the countv of White Pine, and State of Nevada, this sixth day of March, A. D. 1915.

ELLISON EDWARD VANDERHOEF. Witnesses J. M. ANnnRsoN, C. B. NANCE.

Gopies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

